iPad Air M1 11 Inch vs iPad Pro 11 Inch M2
Verdict: The iPad Pro 11-inch M2 wins for users needing 120Hz smoothness and Thunderbolt, beating the Air M1 on display refresh (120Hz vs 60Hz per RTINGS) and GPU tasks. The Air M1 remains strong value for media and light work at lower cost. M2's 8-core CPU outperforms M1's by ~20% in sustained loads per Notebookcheck.
How we scored it
Spec verificationOwner sentimentLive pricing (4h refresh)Editorial review
Our methodology
Winner: iPad Pro 11 Inch M2
iPad Air M1 11 Inch: 6.5/10
iPad Pro 11 Inch M2: 8/10
Spec-by-spec comparison
| iPad Air M1 11 Inch | iPad Pro 11 Inch M2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | Apple M1 | Apple M2 |
| Display | 10.9-inch Liquid Retina | 11-inch Liquid Retina XDR |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz ProMotion |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB |
iPad Air M1 11 Inch
What works
- M1 chip delivers strong performance for productivity and media
- Affordable entry into Apple silicon tablets
- Thin and light design at 1.02 lbs
What doesn't
- Only 60Hz display limits smoothness
- No Thunderbolt support
iPad Pro 11 Inch M2
What works
- M2 chip offers 20-30% faster CPU/GPU than M1 per Geekbench
- 120Hz ProMotion display for fluid scrolling
- Thunderbolt 4 port for faster transfers
What doesn't
- Higher price than Air models
- Overkill for basic tasks
Bottom line
Our pick: iPad Pro 11 Inch M2.
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